AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Once Rita’s birthday had passed and once Anni stopped constantly reminding me about Clara’s issues, then these feelings in my chest would pass—I was sure of it.
ANNUNCIATA
Today the kids were spending the day with Lorenzo’s mother.
Lorenzo was going to be out working all day, so I planned to spend the day studying. Getting out my laptop and textbooks, I started an assignment which was due the following week. I was too riled up, however, from our conversation last night to concentrate.
Throwing down my pen, I opened an online news site on my laptop and let that distract me for a while. Then, under the local news section, an event caught my eye: the Chicago Cat Convention was taking place today in the city.
I had heard about Cat-Con in the past but never thought I’d actually be in Chicago to attend it. Excitement started to bubble inside me. The convention would have all sorts of cat-themed exhibitors, and as I read through the list of what was scheduled, I knew I had to go to it.
And I had the perfect thing to wear to it: no one there would look at me strangely for dressing up in my fluffy white cat costume.
I hurried up to the walk-in closet in the master and dug around in the boxes which I hadn’t yet unpacked. As my hands ran across the plush, white fur of the costume, I felt a sense of familiarity run through me.
It’d been too long since I’d last worn this outfit. Between my new marriage, studies and childcare, I’d had no time for my online hobby club since arriving in Chicago. I made a mental note to rectify that as soon as possible—I needed some downtime if I was going to cope with Lorenzo and my new role as his wife.
After I’d dressed, I grabbed a small backpack and added a bottle of water, my phone, and wallet. In the garage, I picked out an SUV and drove it toward the front gate. Reaching the gate, I came to a stop as I saw Giuseppe walk toward me.
Although I was dressed in my cat costume, the large fluffy white head lay on the passenger seat since wearing it would obscure my view while driving. I rolled down the blacked-out window just enough so that Giuseppe could see my face but not what I was wearing—given how uptight Lorenzo was, I thought he’d want as few of his men as possible to see me dressed in my costume.
“Good morning, ma’am.”
“Hi Giuseppe.” I smiled at him. “I’m headed out to the city center today. Could you allocate a guard to go with me please?” The bodyguard would see my costume, but I’d warn him that Lorenzo would be deeply unhappy if he mentioned it to any of the other soldiers.
Giuseppe hesitated. “Does Mr. Marchiano know about this?”
“Well, no, but I can’t see the problem.”
“You’ll need his permission if you want to go into the city.”
“His permission? Of course, I don’t need his permission. I’m his wife, not his possession.”
“Just a minute, ma’am.”
He pulled out his cell phone and quickly typed out a message.
Ten seconds later, the phone pinged with a reply.
He raised his eyes from the screen apologetically. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but Mr. Marchiano says that you’re not allowed to go.”
“Notallowedto go?What do you mean?”
Giuseppe looked uncomfortable as he tried to explain. “All your trips out so far have been to places a short drive away, like the mall and playground. Heading to the city center poses more risks as it will be a lot busier around there. Mr. Marchiano obviously doesn’t want you in any danger.”
I held out my hand. “Can I see his message please?”
He didn’t hand over the phone.
“Give me the phone, Giuseppe,” I said coldly. I had learned a thing or two by having a Capo as my papà.
He reluctantly passed me his phone.
Giuseppe: ‘Boss, your wife wants permission to go to the city center?’
Lorenzo: ‘DENIED.’
Denied? What the hell?
